Dental cleansing and massage device



Oct. 8, 1935.

H. L. WELKER DENTAL CLEANSING AND MASSAGE DEVICE Filed April 17, 1934gmw HARRY L- WELKER Patented Oct. 8', 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICEl DENTAL CLEANSING AND MASSAGE nnvrcn Harry Logue Welker, Williamsport,Pa. Application April 17, 1934, Serial No. 121,011 1 Claim; (01. 15-227)This invention relates to a dental cleaning and ,massaging device. Ithas for its general object the provision of a flexible member ofthe.finger cot type having a rubbing strip for-cleansing the teeth andstimulating the gums, and carrying a charge of tooth paste which is madeavailable incident to the employment of the device in its rubbingor'massaging capacity.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the characterdescribed in which the rubbing strip-defines aspace within whichislodged a disintegrable or easily rupturable envelope or containercontaining the tooth paste. the paste being released either bydissolution of the envelope whe'n'the device is Wetor'rupture of theenvelope by the bending of the finger.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the following descriptionof a preferred and practical embodiment thereof proceeds. In the drawingwhich accompanies and forms .a part of the following specification andthroughout the several figures ,of which the same characters ofreference have been employed to designate identical parts: Figure 1 is aperspective view of the device of the invention positionedupon thefinger;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device when not in use;

Figure 3 is a cross section showing the tooth so paste in a soluble oreasily rupturable capsule; Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectionillustrating the tooth paste in a rupturable envelope;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section illustrating the method in which theenvelope shown'in Fig- 35 ure 4 is distorted to open the seam and loosenthe tooth paste; and. r

Figure 6 is a. cross section taken along the lineB-GofFigureL 1Referring now in detail to the several figures 40 the numeral Irepresents a finger cot which may be of rubber 'or any suitable textilefabric and being provided with a tab- 2 which when the cot is upon thefinger may be pressed by the thumb as shown in Figure 1 in order to holdthe cot in 45 place. The tab may be provided with a hole 3 facilitatingthe hanging up of the device when not in use.

The side of the finger cot is provided with a rubbing strip 4 preferablyformed of a rough,.but

50 reasonably soft fabric of which turki'sh toweling may be consideredan example. The strip-4 is the tooth paste which shall be impervious before the device is used. but which will disinte-- grate making the toothpaste available. The device is designed to be clipped in water while onthe finger and to be rubbed against thegums 5 and teeth, the releasedtooth paste passing through the meshes in the fabric strip 4, permeatingthe same and making contact with the teeth.

The receptor for the tooth paste may be of 10 ,any desired constructionhaving the .qualities of initial imperviousness and subsequentdisintegrabilityor rupturability. .Figures 1 and 3 show a water solubleor rupturable gelatinous capsule 6 filled with toothpaste and the wallsof which 15 will soften when the device is dipped in water permittingthe capsule to be readily ruptured by slight pressure against the teeth,releasing the toothpaste.

Figure v6 shows a modified form of receptor 20 comprising a small flatenvelope 1 of impervious substance such for. example. cellophane having4 a weak rupturable zone constituted by the seam 8. The seam'side of theenvelope of course faces the detergent strip 4. Eitherbefore or afterthe 25 device is .dipped in water, the'finger is bent as shown in-Figure 5 distorting'theenvelope's'o as to open the seam 8 and releasethe toothpaste.

While the invention contemplates primarily a dental cleaning and massagedevice containing I the receptor of tooth paste and packaged in asanitary manner and designed to be used but once, it is within thepurview of the invention to provide that the device shall be usedrepeatedly. To this end, the upper end 9 of the detergent strip 4 maybe-left unsecured to the finger cot forming the mouth of an open pocketinto which a fresh capsule or envelope may be slipped daily, or asoftenas the teeth are cleaned.

While I have in the above disclosure described whatl believe to be apreferred and practical embodiment of the invention, it is to beunderstood that the details of construction as shown' and described aremerely by way of exampleand notas limiting the scope of the invention asdefined in the terms of the appended claim.

what-1 claim is:

A dental cleansingand massaging-device comprising a flexible finger cot,a rubbing strip extending longitudinally along one side thereof, afragile disintegrable container having a tooth cleaning preparationtherein; said container positioned beneath the strip and adjacent thewall of the finger cot, said strip forming a protective coveringfor saidcontainer. l6

